Gone Country: The Byrds

Members of the Byrds were steeped in folk and bluegrass, so their natural interest in country was tipped by their 1966 cover of the Porter Wagoner hit 'Satisfied Mind.' The band even wrangled a Grand Ole Opry appearance in 1968. Original bassist Chris Hillman had a successful mainstream country turn in the '80s and '90s with the Desert Rose Band. Latter-day Byrd Gram Parsons was a huge alt-country icon (and introduced the world to Emmylou Harris).